“A controversial push by the Screen Actors Guild to defeat a recent accord negotiated by a rival union has touched off an open rebellion within Hollywood’s largest actors guild… SAG’s contract expires June 30, but talks with studios have ground to virtual halt since AFTRA announced an agreement that was modeled on one negotiated by Hollywood’s directors and writers.”
Month: June 2008
Philly’s Boyd At Center Of Preservation Controversy
“For nearly two decades, the Boyd Theater was a building that just couldn’t get any love. One former owner went all the way to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court to reverse the theater’s historic designation. Another wanted to raze the art deco movie palace. A couple of preservationists were even heard disparaging its charms. Now, suddenly, everyone professes to love the Boyd. They just can’t agree on the best way to show it.”
Idol Producers Sued For Re-recording Soundtrack
“A musicians union has filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of ‘American Idol,’ claiming musicians were underpaid because the show’s live music was re-recorded for reruns… In 2007, the producers started cutting out the show’s soundtrack and using different musicians to re-record new music for the past-season highlights show.”
Advertising Without Shouting
“A Bay Area lawmaker is pushing a new bill that would force federal regulators to ratchet down the volume of commercials… British regulators approved similar rules last month that require broadcasters to limit the ‘maximum subjective loudness’ of TV ads after receiving complaints.”
Play For Pay?
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom “has written to instrumental and vocal ensembles that are supported by Grants for the Arts,” requesting that the groups play wedding music at City Hall next week. The wording, which implies that the groups have a duty to perform, has some in the area’s arts scene upset.
Spoiler Alert: Nothing Is Actually Being Spoiled
When did the general public begin caring so much about “spoilers” in movie reviews, sportscasts, and online columns? “Now it seems that everything is a potential spoiler… People will dive into the shrubbery to avoid hearing anything about anything.”
The Long Dark Night Of Van Gogh’s Soul
A new Van Gogh retrospective set to go on display in both the US and Europe examines the artist’s relationship with light and, more importantly, dark. “Van Gogh would often hand-copy pages from novels he was reading that referred to both the physical and mystical aspects of the night.”
Tony Forecast Not As Cut And Dry As Some Think
Tony speculation is rampant in New York this week. “Even in a year like this, when there are what many consider foregone conclusions in some categories and a general if mild dissatisfaction with the choices in others, the old urge to predict remains.”
West Australia PAC Waiting For Help
“A proposed multi-million-dollar Perth Performing Arts Precinct will remain a pipe dream unless the State Government financially commits to the project. Perth City Council has spent $185,000 on creating a masterplan for the concept… But PCC cannot afford to go it alone and is waiting and hoping that a new minister for culture and the arts will offer an olive branch.”
Columbus Youth Orchestras At Risk
With the likely demise of the Columbus Symphony, the community’s youth orchestras, which have always been administered by the CSO, are in trouble. “Symphony leaders… met with 125 parents last week to review options, which could include higher tuition fees, independent fundraising and a bigger role for parent volunteers.”